Compartment carton



June 8, 1955 T. VANDER LUGT, .1R 1 ZMW COMPRTMENT CARTON Filed Aug. 15,1951 2 shee'ts-sneet 1 June 28, 1955 T. VANDER LUG-r, JR 2,711,819

COMPARTMENT CARTON Filed Aug. 15, 1951 2 Sheets-Shet 2 fv/Was /I/wm//fa/c// BY- v 6% @im COMPARTMENT CARTON Thomas Vander Lugt, Jr., Kalamazoo,Mich., assigner to Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application August 15, 1951, Serial No. 241,906

8 Claims. (Cl. 20G-45.14)

This invention relates to improvements in a compartment carton.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a compartment carton which is adapted to receive anddisplay dishes and utensils such as forks and spoons.

Second, to provide a carton having these advantages which may be openedand the articles removed for use, then replaced and the carton reclosed.

Third, to provide a carton including a body member formed of an integralblank and having a plurality of compartments, and one which when erectedis quite strong and rigid.

Fourth, to provide a structure having these advantages which may beeconomically produced in that substantially all the stock of the sheetfrom which it is formed is utilized, and one which may be quickly setup.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in theclaims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a carton embodying my invention with thebody member partially withdrawn from the sleeve-like cover andillustrated as containing dishes and utensils which are conventionallyillustrated.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the body member partially erected.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section on a line corresponding to line3 3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section on a line corresponding toline 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cut and scored blank from which the body isformed, in the at or extended form.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating certain steps inthe erection of the body member of the carton.

The carton of the embodiment of my invention illustrated is designed tohold dishes indicated at 1 in Fig. 1 and forks and spoons indicated at 2and 3. The carton comprises a body member indicated generally by thenumeral 4 and a tubular cover member 5 adapted to telescopingly receivethe body member. The cover member is provided with a window opening 6covered by the transparent panel 7 of cellophane, Pliolm or the like.The

cover member is open at both ends as the ends of the body memberconstitute end closures when the body member i-s telescoped within thecover member.

The body member is formed of an integral blank cut and scored as shownin Fig. 5 to provide outer bottom members 8 3 and an intermediate bottommember 9. These bottom members are connected by the end members 10 whichare hingedly secured to the ends thereof by the hinging scores 11. Thebottom members 8 have outer and inner side walls 12 and 13 hingedlyconnected thereto at 14, the inner walls 13 constituting side walls forthe intermediate bottom member 9. The side walls 12 and 13 have notches15 in their upper edges and slits 16 extending from the bottoms of thenotches. These notches are spaced from the ends of the side walls tocorrespond to the width of the top members 17 which are hingedlyconnected to the top edges of the endwalls 10 at 18. The end walls 10when erected abut the endsof niteci States Patent the side walls and themembers 17 rest on their upper edges.

The retaining and supporting ilaps 19 are hingedly connected to theouter edges of the members 17 at 20. These members 19 are notched at 21and 22 to receive the side walls. The notches are of such depth that theretaining members at the bottoms of the notches engage the slits 16 whenthe carton is fully erected, retaining the parts in erected position.The notches 21 are adapted to receive the handles of the spoons or forksthat may be arranged in the outer compartments.

. The bottom member 9 is provided with a longitudinally extendingU-shaped slit 23 providing a tongue-like parti-v tion member 24 for theintermediate compartment thereby forming two cells for articles, such asthe dishes l.

The end walls correspond in length to the width of the tubular cover sothat the body member may be telescoped within the tubular cover, the endwalls constituting closures for the carton when the body member iscompletely telescoped in the cover member. The flaps 19 hold the sideWalls in erected position and the end members and top members with theseretaining flaps constitute effective rice ' tie members for the spacedbottom members so that the structure is well braced and the partssupported notwithstanding that the side Wall parts are severed from theblank to permit their being swung to erected position.

The body member may be quickly and easily set up. The body member may beprovided with a transparent wrapper, if desired, instead of thesleeve-like cover but the sleeve-like cover is desirable as the bodymember can be repeatedly removed and replaced if desired. The cartonillustrated is especially designed for use with plastic dishes andutensils which are adapted for repeated use but the carton may beproduced so economically that it can be used with paper dishes andutensils which are designed for disposal after single use. The reiativesize of the compartments may be varied to accommodate particulararticles it is desired to package.

I have not attempted to illustrate these variations and adaptations asit is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the artto embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. A compartment carton comprising a body member formed of an integralblank cut and scored to provide parallel laterally spaced outer andintermediate bottom members, side walls hingedly connected to thelongitudinal edges of the outer bottom members, the inner side wallsconnected to the outer bottom members constituting side walls for theintermediate bottom member, said side walls having notches in theirupper edges adjacent to but spaced from their ends and slits extendingdownwardly from said notches, end members hingedly connected to the endsof said bottom members and having top members hingedly connected totheir outer edges and foldable upon the said side walls, said topmembers having retaining flaps hingedly connected to their swingingedges and notched to receive portions of said side walls and engage saidslits therein whereby the side walls and said end members are held inerected position with the ends ot' said end members projecting laterallybeyond the outer side walls, each retaining ilap having an opening inits side edge aligned with one of said outer bottom members to receiveone end of an article positioned within the compartment, and asleeve-likel cover adapted to telescopingly receive said body memberwhen fully erected and provided with a window for disclosing articlestherein, the end walls constituting closures for the ends of the cover.

2. Acompartment carton comprising a body member formed of an integralblank cut and scored to providev parallel laterally spaced outer andintermediate bottom members, side walls hingedly connected to thelongitudinal edges of the outer bottom members, the inner side wallsconnected to the outer bottom members constituting side Walls for theintermediate bottom member, end members hingedly connected to the endsof said bottom members and having top members hingedly connected totheir outer edges 'and foldable upon the said side Walls, said topmembers having retaining flaps hingedly connected to their swingingedges and notched to engage said side Walls on the opposite sidesthereof whereby the side walls and 'said end members are held in erectedposition, the ends of said end members projecting laterally beyond theouter side walls, the ends of said retaining laps "projecting laterallybeyond the outer side walls and 'retainin'gly engaging the outer sidesthereof when the ont-cr side walls are engaged in the notches of theretaining flaps, each retaining iiapkhaving an opening in its side edgealigned with one of said outer bottom members to rcceive one end of anarticle positioned within the compartment, and a sleeve-like coveradapted to telescopingly receive said body member when fully erected andprovided with a window for disclosing articles therein, the end wallsconstituting closures for the ends of the cover. v 3. A compartmentcarton comprising a lbody member formed of an integral blank cut andscored to provide parallel laterally spaced outer and intermediatebottom members, side walls hingedly connected to the longitudinal edgesof the outer bottom members, the inner side walls connected to the outerbottom members constituting side walls for the intermediate bottommember, said side walls having notches in their upper edges adjacent tobut spaced from their ends and slits extending downwardly from saidnotches, end members hingedly connected to the ends of said bottommembers and having top members hingedly connected to their outer edgesand foldable upon the said side walls, said top members having retainingflaps hingedly connected to their swinging edges and notched to receiveportions of said side walls and engage said slits therein whereby theside walls and said end members are held in erected position with theends of said end members projecting laterally beyond the outer sidewalls, and a sleeve-like cover adapted to telescopingly receive saidbody member when fully erected and provided with a window for disclosingarticles therein, the end walls constituting closures for the ends ofthe cover.

4. A compartment carton comprising a body member formed of an integralblank cut and scored to provide parallel laterally spaced outer andintermediate bottom members, side walls hingedly connected to thelongitudinal edges of the outer bottom members,` the inner side wallsconnected to the outer bottom members constituting side Walls for theintermediate bottom member, end members hingedly connected to the endsof saidbottom members and having top members hingedly connected to theirouter edges and foldable upon the said side walls, said top membershaving retaining flaps hingedly connected to their swinging edges andnotched to engage said side walls on the opposite sides thereof wherebythe side walls and said endmembers are held in erected position, theends of said end members projecting laterally beyond the outer sidewalls, the ends of said retaining aps projecting laterally beyond theouter side walls and retainingly engaging the outer sides thereof whenthe outer side walls are engaged in the notches of the retaining aps,and a sleeve-like cover adapted to telescopingly receive said bodymember when fully erected and provided With a window for disclosingarticles therein, the end walls constituting closures for the ends ofthe cover.

5. A compartment carton comprising parallel laterally spaced outer andintermediate bottom members, side walls hingedly connected to thelongitudinal edges of the outer bottom members, the inner side wallsconnected to the outer bottom members. constituting side Walls for theintermediate bottom member, said side walls having notches in theirupper edges adjacent to but spaced from their ends and slits extendingdownwardly from said notches, and end members hingedly connected to theends of said bottom members and having top members hingedly connected totheir outer'edges and foldable upon the said side walls, said topmembers having retaining flaps hingedly connected to their swingingedges and notched to receive portions of said side walls and engage saidsli't's therein whereby the side walls and said end members are heldinerected position.

6. A compartment carton comprising parallel laterally spaced outer andintermediate bottom members, side walls hingedly connected to thelongitudinal edges of the outer bottom members, the inner side wallsconnected to the outer bottom members constituting side walls for theintermediate bottom member, and end members hingedly connected 'to theends of said bottom members and having top members hingedly connected totheir outer edges and foldable upon the said side walls, said topmembers having retaining flaps hingedly connected to their swingingedges and notched to engage said side walls on the opposite sidesthereof whereby the side walls and said end members are held in erectedposition, each retaining iiap having an opening therethrough verticallyaligned with one of said outer bottom members and opening to the spacebetween a retaining ap and an end member to receive one end of anarticle positioned within the compartment, said intermediate bottommember having a longitudinally disposed U-shaped slit therein providinga tongue-like partition for the intermediate compartment.

7. A compartment carton comprising parallel laterally spacedouter andintermediate bottom members, side walls hingedly connected tothe'longitudinal edges of the outer bottom members, the inner side wallsconnected to the outer bottom members constituting side walls for theintermediate' bottom member, and end members hingedly connected to theends of said bottom members and having top members hingedly connected totheir outer edges and foldable upon the said side walls, said topmembers having retaining flaps hingedly connected to their swingingedges and notched to engage said side walls on the opposite sidesthereof whereby the side walls and said end members are held in erectedposition, each retaining Hap having an opening therethrough verticallyaligned with one of said outer bottom members and opening to the spacebetween a retaining ap and an end member to receive one end of anarticle positioned within the compartment.

8. A compartment carton comprising parallel laterally spaced outer andintermediate bottom members, side walls hingedly connected to thelongitudinal edges of the outer bottom members, the inner side wallsconnected to the outer bottom members constituting side walls for thcintermediate bottom member, and end members hingedly connected to theends of said bottom members and having top members hingedly connected totheir outer edges and foldable upon the said side walls, said topmembers having retaining flaps hingedly connected to their swingingedges and notched to engage said side Walls on the opposite sidesthereof whereby the side walls and said end members are held in erectedposition, said intermediate bottom member having a longitudinallydisposed U-shaped slit therein providing a tongue-like partition for theintermediate compartment.

Referen'ces Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,707,771 Richardson Apr. 2, 1929 2,205,157 Schrell June 18, 19402,393,734 Beardsell Jan. 29, 1946 2,451,209 Frankenstein Oct. 12, 19482,511,189 Woodward 1 June 13, 1950 2,582,476 Buttery Jan. l5, 19522,593,895 Kohl Apr. 22, 1952 2,621,783 Buttery Dec. 16,1952

